Information Processing Apparatus and Device Management Method

1. An apparatus for communicating with a device connected to a network through a management application, the apparatus comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and having instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: determining whether an issue instruction to operate the device is allowed to be issued to the device, based on a command issue rule, the command issue rule being different in each attribute of the instruction; issuing the issue instruction to the device in a case where the instruction to operate the device is allowed to be issued; and executing an operation to operate the device when the issue instruction is issued.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determining makes determination based on determination information defined by a user.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising: defining priority level for the instruction; and defining a user authority level of the user, wherein the determination information includes a level value defined by the definings.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determining generates a display instruction to perform display on a display unit to indicate that an operation will be performed on the device in the case where the instruction is allowed to be issued.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determining unit determines that an instruction to write information is allowed to be issued to the device when the device is idling in a lower power consumption state, and the instruction to write information is not allowed to be issued to the device when the device is printing.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when the device is in a lower power consumption state, the determining makes determination using determination information that defines a user who is authorized to issue an information obtaining request from the device and a user who is not authorized to issue an information obtaining request.

7. A method in an apparatus for communicating with a device connected to a network through a network management application, the method comprising: determining whether an issue instruction to operate the device is allowed to be issued to the device, based on a command issue rule, the command issue rule being different in each attribute of the instruction; issuing the issue instruction to the device in a case where the instruction to operate the device is allowed to be issued; and executing an operation to operate the device when the issue instruction is issued.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the determining makes determination based on determination information defined by a user.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising: defining priority level for the instruction by a first defining unit; and defining a user authority level of the user by a second defining unit, wherein determination information includes a level value defined by the first and second defining units.

10. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising performing display on a display unit to indicate that an operation will be performed on the device in a case where the instruction is allowed to be issued.

11. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising determining that an instruction to write information is allowed to be issued to the device when the device is idling in a lower power consumption state, and the instruction to write information is not allowed to be issued to the device when the device is printing.

12. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising determining whether the instruction can be issued when the device is in a low power consumption state, using determination information defining a user who is authorized to issue an information obtaining request from the device and a user who is not authorized to issue an information obtaining request.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by an apparatus for communication with a device connected to a network, causes the apparatus to perform operations comprising: determining whether an issue instruction to operate the device is allowed to be issued to the device, based on the command issue rule, the command issue rule being different in each attribute of the instruction; issuing the issue instruction to the device if the instruction to operate the device is to be issued; and executing an operation to operate the device when the issue instruction is issued.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13 , wherein the determining makes determination based on determination information defined by a user.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14 , further comprising: defining priority level for an instruction by a first defining unit; and defining a user authority level of the user by a second defining unit, wherein the determination information includes a level value defined by the first and second defining units.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13 , further comprising performing display on a display unit to indicate that an operation will be performed on the device in a case where the instruction is allowed to be issued.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13 , further comprising determining that an instruction to write information is allowed to be issued to the device when the device is idling in a lower power consumption state, and the instruction to write information is not allowed to be issued to the device when the device is printing.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13 , further comprising determining whether the instruction can be issued when the device is in a low power consumption state, using determination information defining a user who is authorized to issue an information obtaining request from the device and a user who is not authorized to issue an information obtaining request.